Surname Malcolmson - Meaning and Origin

Malcolmson: What does the surname Malcolmson mean?

The surname Malcolmson is most likely of Scottish origin. It has strong ties to the Clan MacTavish and probably derives from an old Gaelic phrase "Mac Tadhg Colm" or "Son of Tadhg Colm".

Tadhg is a Gaelic name which roughly translates to "poet", while Colm is a Gaelic name originating from the Latin name Columba, meaning "dove". It is possible that the early MacTavishes were members of the Church, or at least identified with Christianity due to their use of the Latin name.

The MacTavish clan is an old Scottish Highland clan which had a successful history before the 12th century. The territory controlled by the clan extended from Argyll to the Hebrides, and produced several notable clan figures, including a number of chiefs of the clan.

The name Malcolmson, as a result, has strong ties to this ancient past. It is likely that those with the surname Malcolmson come from a long and prestigious lineage, tracing their roots back to the MacTavish clan. The surname carries a sense of pride and admiration in its Scottish Highland history, and those who bear it possess an interesting and unique origin story.

Malcolmson: Where does the name Malcolmson come from?

The last name Malcolmson is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. In England, the name is particularly prevalent in the counties of Devon, Cornwall, Cumbria, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Northumberland. It is also fairly common in Wales and Northern Ireland. Additionally, particularly in Scotland, the name is found in the western isles and Highland regions.

The Malcolmson surname is of Scottish origin and is believed to have developed from a person in Middle English, whose first name was Malcolmson. The name could also have been derived from a place named Malcolmson in Scotland. In the Middle Ages, Malcolmson was used to refer to someone from the village of Malcolm in Scotland, which was also called Malcolmson.

The Malcolmson name can be traced back to the early years of the 13th century when it is recorded in an early 14th-century document from the expectations of Kilwinning in Scotland. It is thought that the Malcolmson family originally came from the Barony of Malcolm in Scotland.

The Malcolmson family name is still strong today and is a proud symbol of Scotland and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Malcolmson

The surname Malcolmson is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the father's given name. It is an Anglicised form of the Scottish MacOlafson or MacOlmsson, and the Irish Mac Gulmoyle. The spelling variations for these names can vary from MacOlafson to MacOlmson and MacOlmeson. Other variations of the name include Malcomson, Malcolmson, and Malmson.

The Irish surname Mac Gulmoyle also derived from the name Olmuy, which is derived from the Irish words uaml, meaning “scholar”, and cuaul, meaning “noble”. This family descended from a royal Scottish ancestor who was granted the barony of Molleuy. The Scottish name MacOlafson also has roots in Danish and Norse languages, meaning “son of Olaf”. Olaf is a Norse given name derived from the root noun “aleif”, meaning “ancestor”.

Additional spellings and variants of the surname Malcolmson include Malcolmeson, MacOlmson, MacOlmesson, Malcormson, Malcolmsson, Macolmeson, Macalmason, Malcheson, Makolmson, MacGulmoyle, and MacGulmuil. Many of these spellings and surnames have dropped in popularity in the United States, but the surnames MacGulmoyle and MacGulmuil, the Irish variants, are still frequently used in Ireland. Worldwide the surname appears to be most popular in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Famous people with the name Malcolmson

• Virginia Malcolmson: Scottish TVD actor who has starred in various films including Shakespeare in Love, Les Misérables, and The Vicar of Dibley
• Brian Malcolmson: Canadian football player for the Montreal Alouettes from 1960 to 1963
• Stuart Malcolmson: English actor, best known for playing Jake in Shameless and The Jimmy Show
• John Malcolmson: British actor, best known for his roles in Coronation Street and The Bill
• Kevin Malcolmson: American rapper and record producer, best known for his work with rapper Drake
• Steve Malcolmson: English rugby union player and coach
• Jim Malcolmson: Scottish footballer who played for various clubs, including Hearts and Falkirk
• George Malcolmson: Former Australian cricketer
• Eddie Malcolmson: American basketball player who played for the Pacific Tigers
• Mark Malcolmson: Lead singer of the rock band Firetide

Other surnames

Malcolm